Name/Title
Diagram of the Assemley Chamber 1851Entry/Object ID
002861Tags
New York LegislatureScope and Content
This image is an original legislative seating chart and broadside titled "Diagram of the Assembly Chamber" from the year 1851.
Specifically, it maps out the New York State Assembly Chamber. Here is a breakdown of the key elements visible in the document:
Key Features of the Diagram
The Speaker's Dais: At the top center, the diagram designates the seat for the Speaker of the Assembly, explicitly naming Hon. Henry J. Raymond of New York. It also details the positions of the clerks, messengers, and reporters surrounding the desk.
Seating Arrangement: The semi-circular rows map out numbered desks assigned to individual assemblymen, with their names and the counties or districts they represented printed inside each box.
Almanac: In the upper left corner, there is a printed 1851 Almanac calendar detailing the months of the year.
Illustration: In the lower left corner, there is a detailed vignette illustration titled "View of the Capitol in Winter," showing the old New York State Capitol building in Albany surrounded by snow and trees.
Officers and Attendants: The borders and bottom sections include designated areas for the Sergeant-at-Arms, Door Keepers, and specific "Seats for Citizens" (galleries/spectator areas).
Publisher Information: At the very bottom, the imprint notes it was produced by Richard H. Pease, a prominent lithographer and engraver located at "516 Broadway, in the Temple of Fancy, Albany, New York."
Documents like the one were typically printed at the start of a legislative session so members, reporters, and citizens could identify where representatives sat on the chamber floor.